Any Number Can Win

Any Number Can Win (Melodie En Sous-Sol) (1963)

Runtime: 121 minutes

Directed by: Henri Verneuil

Starring: Jean Gabin, Alain Delon (RIP), Claude Cerval, Vivane Romance, Henri Virlojeux

From: Several different French and Italian companies

RIP Alain Delon. In the past I’ve discussed several films starring this French star who not only became a sex symbol, he played impossibly cool characters. This includes Le Samourai, which I’ve recently learned was incredibly influential-it wasn’t just Fincher’s The Killer that reminds people of Jef Costello. Other films I dig include Le Cercle Rouge and his small supporting role in the awesome Western Red Sun. Bronson, Delon AND Mifune… holy crap. There’s also the likes of Capucine and Ursula Andress, so that’s one I happily recommend.

Among the selection of pictures I had at my disposal, Any Number Can Win was selected as it’s a heist picture, I knew its other star (the legendary Jean Gabin) and director Henri Verneuil has always been enjoyed by me. The plot sounds bog-standard: Gabin’s Charles is just released from prison and he lives in a house surrounded by high-rises as if he’s either Carl Fredricksen or the family from Big City Greens-yes, I have young nephews. Instead of living a reformed life once out of a slammer, Charles joins Delon’s Francis-his cellmate-to plan a daring heist of a Cannes casino.

Not surprisingly, Delon (normally in jeans and leather jacket as his dress) is asked to cosplay as a playboy as part of the scheme; also not surprisingly, he enjoys that façade a little too much, causing natural conflict. It is an effortlessly cool picture that has a jazzy vibe-and appropriately, a jazzy score-that takes its time but always is enthralling. The heist is effective even if it isn’t the most elaborate by any means-don’t expect any version of Ocean’s 11. For those that are Francophile film fans this should be a swell time. So is those that that enjoy the heist genre. Finally, if you enjoy one or more of the main players, it is likely a fun way to spend two hours.

Of course, a movie like Le Samourai is a great picture to visit or revisit as a Delon tribute. Me, I was happy to finally pull the trigger on a movie that’s intrigued me for months now.